Reasons for Designation
Around 6,000 moated sites are known in England. They consist of wide ditches,
often or seasonally water-filled, partly or completely enclosing one or more
islands of dry ground on which stood domestic or religious buildings. In some
cases the islands were used for horticulture. The majority of moated sites
served as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with the
provision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practical
military defence. The peak period during which moated sites were built was
between about 1250 and 1350 and by far the greatest concentration lies in
central and eastern parts of England. However, moated sites were built
throughout the medieval period, are widely scattered throughout England and
exhibit a high level of diversity in their forms and sizes. They form a
significant class of medieval monument and are important for the understanding
of the distribution of wealth and status in the countryside. Many examples
provide conditions favourable to the survival of organic remains.
Details
The monument is the moated site of Holford Hall. It includes an island
measuring c.100m x 80m. Holford Hall, a garage and access drive occupy the
northern quadrant of the island. Surrounding the island on all sides except
the southwest is a waterlogged moat c.20m wide x 1.5m deep to the water level.
Access to the island is by a 17th-century sandstone bridge across the
north-eastern arm and by a causeway across the south-eastern arm.
The present house is a fragment of a much larger timber house consisting of
three sides of a quadrangle that was rebuilt in the early 17th century for
Mary Cholmondeley, heiress of Christopher Holford of Holford. The south wing
collapsed and was demolished in 1844. The north wing was demolished during
the 1880s. Photographs of the north wing show it to have been earlier than
what survives and limited archaeological excavation in 1990 revealed
foundation stones set in clay. The moat's south-western arm was infilled this
century but its location is marked by a change in the vegetation cover. A
chapel survived on the island until the 1920s/30s.
Holford Hall is a Listed Building Grade II*. The bridge is a Listed Building
Grade II.
Holford Hall and all service pipes, field boundaries and telegraph poles, the
driveway, garage, bridge and a 2m wide strip of farmtrack at the moat's north-
eastern corner are all excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath
all these features is included. The area of the existing Victorian brick
addition to the hall, both above and below ground, and the area between it and
the adjacent garage are totally excluded from the scheduling.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13498
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
